(MENAFN) The US has announced the evacuation of all its embassy personnel in Sudan and their dependents as the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues to escalate. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the closure of the nation's diplomatic mission in Khartoum, describing the violence as "tragic" and "unconscionable". The evacuation operation, which involved a little over 100 US special forces members, removed fewer than 100 people, including US government personnel and a small number of diplomatic personnel from other countries. The US military officials said the operation went smoothly, with the team entering and leaving Sudan without being fired upon by the warring factions.

The announcement by the US came a day after Saudi Arabia said it had evacuated more than 100 of its citizens, along with those of several other countries, from the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, taking them to Jeddah aboard navy ships. France has also announced the evacuation of its citizens. The evacuations became necessary after neither side in the conflict showed a desire to end the fighting, which has claimed the lives of hundreds and trapped hundreds of thousands more in their homes in Khartoum. Residents have been left with little access to power, water, and dwindling food supplies, while hospitals are overwhelmed.

The conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began on April 15 and has since spread to other parts of Sudan, a vast Afro-Arab nation of 44 million people. On Sunday morning, there was renewed fighting in Khartoum, breaking the relative calm that marked the three-day truce for Eid Al Fitr, the Muslim holiday that follows the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The ongoing conflict has prompted the US to issue a travel warning, urging its citizens to avoid travel to Sudan and to leave the country if possible.

The United Nations has called for an immediate end to the violence, expressing concern for the welfare of civilians trapped in the fighting. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has also called for an independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights abuses and violations committed during the conflict. With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the international community has been urged to act quickly to end the conflict and prevent further loss of lives.

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